Apr 16 - Easter Sunday

+ Two weeks ago Jesus told Martha, the sister of Mary and Lazarus whom he was about to raise from the dead: “I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE, WHOEVER BELIEVES IN ME, EVEN IF HE DIES, WILL LIVE, AND EVERYONE WHO LIVES AND BELIEVES IN ME WILL NEVER DIE!” This was the astounding message of that day’s readings, and it is the identical and astounding message of todays’: today, on this Easter Sunday, Jesus stands in our midst as ONE LIKE US, WHO WAS RAISED FROM HUMAN DEATH by God his Father and given A BRAND-NEW KIND OF HUMAN LIFE: a life of fullness, splendor, and glory: so that he can freely give them to us, IF WE BUT BELIEVE IN HIM!

Today is the “day of whistles and bells” it is the “day of appreciating the ‘fully loaded’ shiny new automobile” that we all might hope to own just one time in our lives. This is the “newness of life” that we speak of in the resurrection of Jesus. He did not resume a previous “used life,” but began to model now the fully loaded version with amazing new capabilities, whistles and bells. (I speak of the preternatural gifts, of course, but more on them later).

For now, Jesus, the only human person who was “born to die,” and to rise again to a fullness of life, paid the price of Adam’s sin by death on a Cross so that we could be free: free to believe in his divinity; free of our sins that would disqualify us from eternal life; free to live forever with God in heaven with all our brothers and sisters who go before us: to really and truly never die again, after our baptism!

Yes, in coming out of the tomb JESUS BECAME RESURRECTION: HE BECAME NEW LIFE – SHINY, POLISHED, WHISTLING, TINKLING NEW LIFE - FOR ALL OF US!

Therefore, the two possible fitting responses we can give him are: first, an enormous amount today of THANKS, and PRAISE and WORSHIP! The “Alleluias” that we sing today should resound in our hearts constantly for the next fifty days: the length of the observance of the Easter Season! “Alleluia” is the song the angels sing before the throne of God, day and night! With our voices blending with theirs God will be very pleased with us and he will know that we “get it” – we understand the PROFUND DEPTH OF HIS LOVE FOR US in planning our salvation, and in going through all of what it entailed, including the death of his own Son - FOR US AND FOR OUR SALVATION!

And secondly, may our hearts burn with love for Jesus today and every day: Jesus, our Elder Brother who came back from the dead, and who is with us now sacramentally in his Church [especially in Holy Communion], and who plans to come back one day to take us with him, where he is now! And may we make this “gospel [good news] story” known to all we meet – some way, somehow! It is our supernatural duty as baptized members of Christ’s Body: the Church to do this!

Just as “evangelization” began with Mary Magdalene bringing the “good news” of Christ’s resurrection to Peter and the Apostles:  “gospel spreading,” in Virginia, begins with us! Jesus did what he did for all people everywhere, including right here where we are, and he needs us to help 

“get the word out” – the Good Word of God’s Gospel – the Good Word of the Resurrection!

So what do you say? Are you willing to tell people about the most amazing love story ever told: God’s truly awesome and redeeming love for all people everywhere – which has more than a fairy tale ending?

 I pray so!

God bless you!